5 minute read
Ranking the Schools
Here Are the Top Five Ranked High Schools in Charlotte
By Ryan Kouame
As the pandemic continues and vaccines are being administered, CharlotteMecklenburg Schools are starting to open for the 2021-2022 school year. Most campuses transitioned to online learning when the pandemic began, but that didn’t stop CMS high school students from reaching their milestones.
U.S. News & World Report released its ranking of the best high schools in the U.S. earlier this year, factoring in state assessments, college readiness, graduation rates, and reading and math proficiency for more than 24,000 public high schools. North Carolina high schools ranked 27th with many CharlotteMecklenburg County high schools making the list.
“We are pleased that a national publication has recognized several of our schools as among the best in the nation,” said Executive Director of Communication for CharlotteMecklenburg Schools (CMS), Eve White. “District leaders are committed to providing all our students with the best possible environments in which to learn and develop,” White said.
Below is a ranking of the top five schools in the region, their history and what makes them stand out:
1
Ardrey Kell High School
Established in 2006, Ardrey Kell is a public high school serving grades 9–12 in the Ballantyne area. The school was named after two prominent families from the Lower Providence area who served as farmers, physicians, educators, politicians and church leaders. Their rich tradition of excellence in academics is consistently ranked best in the state. According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best High Schools List, the school ranked first place in the county and 15th in North Carolina with an overall score of 96.71 out of 100.
2
Providence High School
Providence High ranked second place with a score of 96.24 out of 100. The secondary school opened in 1989 and currently serves more than 2,000 students. They have since added a technical building, a greenhouse, and a gym that houses a swimming pool. Providence ensures their students are well-equipped for the challenges of college and the world of work. They have the highest average SAT score and advanced placement course passage rate in the region.
More than half of their teaching faculty have master’s degrees or higher and 68% have more than 10 years of experience. They are also a blue-ribbon school, which is the highest national recognition available.
Photo by Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com 3
Corey Mitchell, former Northwest School of the Arts theater teacher, wins the first Excellence in Theatre Education Tony Award in 2015.
Northwest School of the Arts
The Northwest School of the Arts (NWSA) is a magnet school that provides specialized arts education for students in grades 6-12. The school ranked third statewide with a score of 94.56 out of 100 and currently enrolls around 1,100 students.
Northwest School of the Arts opened in 1991 and has since created an avenue for students to pursue performing arts that include theatre, ballet, dance, jazz, choir, orchestra and band. The school also offers visual arts such as painting, drawing, studio photography, communications, printmaking, sculpting and ceramics—all without sacrificing their core classes.
Notable NWSA alumni Eva Noblezada is a two-time Tony Award nominee and actress who currently stars as Eurydice in the Broadway musical “Hadestown.” Former theater teacher Corey Mitchell won the inaugural Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award, and he also won the first Excellence in Theatre Education Tony Award in 2015.
Northwest School of the Arts begins every morning with a daily affirmation that states, “I have a gift, I am talented, I am a doer — not a quitter. I matter to myself and others, and that is why I will be good to myself and others. I am a leader and I will walk in my excellence.”
Northwest School of the Arts alumna Eva Noblezada attends the Tony Awards in 2017 at Radio City Music Hall
Photo courtesy of William A. Hough High School 4
William A. Hough High School JROTC
William A. Hough High School
William A. Hough High ranked fourth with a score of 90.07 out of 100. The school opened in 2010 because of a growing northern Mecklenburg County. Hough High School offers advanced placement courses in the four core areas along with a variety of electives to enrich student education, including: • Distributive Education Clubs of
America (DECA) which prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in business, marketing, finance, hospitality and management. • Occupational study where students with disabilities go to various businesses in the community and train as school/work associates to earn credits towards their diploma. • The distinguished Hough Orchestra program where many graduates go on to earn positions with local and regional orchestras.
Photo courtesy of Myers Park High School
5
Students on the campus of Myers Park High School
Myers Park High School
Myers Park High School serves students in grades 9-12 and ranked fifth with a score of 88.08 out of 100. Myers Park opened its doors in 1951 and has since established a rich legacy of academic success throughout the region. Previously serving as a community college, the campus boasts a 62-acre campus with 13 buildings.
Each student at Myers Park is recognized as an individual with an array of interests, talents and needs. They offer advanced placement (AP), international baccalaureate (IB), and honors courses in many academic areas in addition to vocational offerings, college prep, apprenticeships and internships. P
